A physiological disorder in Prunus domestica L. involving the rupturing of the fruit skin due to water balance imbalances, resulting in the loss of market quality and the development of fungal infections such as Monilinia sp.
In the reference
34
varieties
crop European plum,
where this is mentioned in the description.
Resistance to cracking is a cultivar-specific trait depending on the anatomical characteristics of the cuticle and fruit skin. The primary physiological cause of damage is considered to be the discrepancy between the rate of pulp volume increase during ripening and the elasticity of the epidermal tissues, which is often triggered by a sudden influx of moisture.
In scientific practice, a laboratory method involving the immersion of healthy fruits in distilled water is used to evaluate the genetic predisposition of plum cultivars, followed by calculating the cracking index based on the dynamics of macroscopic crack formation over 24 hours. The obtained data are used to classify cultivars into resistance groups, as skin damage creates conditions for the widespread development of fruit rot.
General information about the subject — on the page
Fruit cracking.
Varieties of European plum mentioned in the description
Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.